Tom Barry: The year we did two years' work in one
Sponsored Greevy, Year Farmer As Well Environmental Tom Of Who Category As The (right) The Herdwatch, With The A Pictured Barry Overall Award Herdwatch Tom James Won
Tillage farming in 2024 was one of the most challenging years; many of us did two years’ work in one, along with taking advantage of short working windows. Ground conditions were difficult in spring, and many crops were sown late, especially beans. The harvest started for me on July 16 with winter barley.
This crop yielded 4t/acre due to the strong fertility in the soil. Winter oats were next in late July, but the yield was a disappointing 3.25t/acre; a late frost certainly didn’t help this crop.
Winter rye was next on August 10, and this crop did very well considering the poor establishment in some headlands. Rye, while it can be slow to establish and dislikes very wet soils, has a great ability to recover and tiller if a reasonable plant stand is left. Yields varied between 3-4t/acre.
Winter bean harvest began on August 25 and yielded approximately 2.25t/acre, down 0.5t on average years. I feel the cold year and lack of sunshine impacted yield. This crop once again received no herbicide and no artificial fertiliser, as the soil fertility was adequate. Spring oats yielded a surprising 3t/acre given the late sowing date of April 28.
I set Caprice spring beans on April 20, and I was delighted that this early variety was cut on September 17 with the straw baled also. The yield was average at 2.1t/acre at 20% moisture, but given the year, it was acceptable. The protein payment is a really important factor in keeping this crop viable.
I had only 25 acres of late-sown spring barley; this was sown on ley ground and struggled all year. An application of dairy slurry on the crop at late tillering (<GS30) was needed.
More bagged fertiliser was not the answer here, as the uptake would be too slow, if at all. I was nervous at the late timing of application and the possible crop damage, but ground conditions were good, and the forecast was for some light rain to follow, which would allow nutrient uptake.
This crop yielded 2.75t/acre, but I am confident if I hadn’t intervened with organic manure, the yield would have been 1t less per acre.
Straw quantity and price certainly helped this year. Straw yields had reduced by a third in 2023 but were back up this year. Weather again was challenging in saving the straw, and the baling assistance measure was welcome.
I was honoured to be the tillage enterprise winner at the Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards in October. In November, I attended the FBD Better Farming Awards and was selected as the environmental farmer of the year.
The night ended with me being selected as the overall winner of the Better Farming Awards from the 17 category winners. I am humbled and grateful for being chosen as the winner by so many of my peers whom I respect.
I will continue to apply best practice and scientific farming husbandry while embracing new research and technology. Finally, I would like to thank and acknowledge FBD and Teagasc for promoting and showcasing the best of Irish agriculture.
